What is Professional Coaching - How Do I Hire a Coach?
Professional coaching is a relatively new profession, formally only ten to fifteen years old. Coaching is defined by the International Coach Federation (ICF) as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”*
Coach and client form a partnership and create an ongoing relationship in which the coach guides the client to focus on a vision of the future. Through a renewed self awareness, clients find themselves growing and changing while creating an ideal life with their coach providing structure, support and accountability.
Origins of Coaching
While the exact origin of coaching is not precisely known, several parallel paths exist. In the late eighties Thomas Leonard, an accountant and financial planner, began to notice that his clients were asking for more than financial advice and were searching for deeper meaning in their lives. Leonard began training coaches in 1988 and went on to create Coach U in 1992. In 1995 he created the International Coach Federation. Leonard is widely considered the father of coaching. About the same time, Laura Whitworth and Karen and Henry Kimsey-House created the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) which became the first ICF-accredited coach training school.Benefits of Coaching
The benefits of coaching are too numerous to list. A few major benefits that clients can expect are identified here.
- Improving an individuals’ performance
- Expanding one’s knowledge base through personal learning and development
- Identifying solutions to specific work-related issues
- Creating greater ownership and responsibility
- Expanding self-awareness
- Improving specific skills or behavior
- Creating greater clarity in roles and objectives
Coach or Therapist?
Coaching is often confused with therapy but is quite different. Therapy focuses on painful events that happened in the past that prevent one from functioning in a healthy productive manner. A person may not be able to move forward without extensive therapy lasting many years. Coaching focuses on the present and future in taking positive action to develop a life based on one’s values and vision of an ideal life.Coach or Consultant?
Consultants are often experts in their field. They are hired to solve problems and may implement the recommended solutions themselves. Once carried out, the consultant’s job is finished. A coach has received extensive training and will partner with the client, help the client find their own solution that works for them, and will stay with the client as improvements are implemented.With the increase in coaching popularity, many consultants have added the word “coach” to their titles, however many have not received ICF accredited coach-specific training. It is important to discover whether a coach has received ICF accredited training rather than appending a title on their business card.
The International Coach Federation
The ICF is the leading global independent organization that certifies coaches. The ICF has more than 14,000 members in 84 countries. The ICF does not offer coach training thereby offering an independent credential for coaches wishing to align themselves with an ethical independent organization that upholds high coaching ethics.Why it’s Important to Choose an ICF-Credentialed Coach
Many professions have core competencies and standards of ethics. Professional coaching is no different. When hiring an ICF-certified coach you are hiring a professional coach who has agreed to uphold the ethical standards set forth by the ICF. In order to receive certification, your coach has demonstrated core competencies necessary to provide valuable coaching benefits.The ICF supports three levels of certification, each with its own rigorous standards. They are Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Master Certified Coach (MCC). Presently there are over 3000 coaches worldwide holding an ICF credential.
How to Hire a Coach
Just as there are many personality types among individuals, each coach has their own style and character. Many coaches offer a complimentary coaching session so that you can get a feel for their style and whether there is a good fit.Some things to remember when interviewing a coach: inquire into the coach’s experience, their background, training, ICF credential, and their specialization - whether it’s life coaching or business coaching, small business owners, or corporate executives. Other important information includes how they coach, whether in person or via phone, fee schedules, and number of sessions monthly.
As you can see, coaching is a powerful profession that is growing in popularity worldwide. As occupations become more popular, standards of professional conduct become increasingly important. How can you be sure you are hiring a competent coach? Look for the ICF credential and you are well on your way to experiencing one of the most powerful relationships today.
©Copyright 2008- Suzanne Muusers - All Rights Reserved
About the author
Suzanne Muusers, ACC is an ICF-Certified Coach and Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for the Phoenix Chapter of the International Coach Federation. To learn more about how to hire a professional coach, visit: http://www.icfphoenix.com or http://www.coachfederation.org
* International Coach Federation
Copyright© 2008, Suzanne Muusers | All Rights Reserved|
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